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Local News
CARPHA, TTL Working To Prevent Carnival Diseases Spreading
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is hoping to reduce instances of people coming down with the ‘Carnival virus’ through its Regional Tourism and Health Programme (THP). In a news release yesterday, CARPHA said it has collaborated with Tourism Trinidad Ltd (TTL) to build capacity to promote healthier, safer tourism as Trinidad prepares for Carnival celebrations.
Ramps Wins T&T Energy Conference Innovation Award
Ramps Logistics has been named the Innovation and Technology Challenge winner following its presentation at the T&T Energy Conference 2025. The challenge is designed to recognise groundbreaking and innovative solutions that address key challenges within the energy sector.
CAL Pilots Express Frustration On Billboard Near Airport
Tensions between the T&T Airline Pilots’ Association (TTALPA) and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) have escalated, with the union making a bold public statement with a billboard erected on BWIA Boulevard, near Piarco International Airport.
5 Roles To Be Impacted In T&T
The Digicel Group says that only five roles based in Trinidad and Tobago will be impacted by the decentralisation plan, which aims to keep the company ‘relevant and competitive’. In an e-mail responding to questions from the Express, Digicel confirmed that the consultation period for staff began last week and is expected to last 45 days.
TTSEC Warns Of Evolving Investment Scams
The Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC) is warning the public about emerging investment scam trends and patterns in T&T.
Term Finance Acquires Loans From Axcel
Term Finance, a digital lender in the Caribbean, has entered into a novel arrangement with Axcel Finance, a consumer credit provider operating in Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, and Grenada.
Hadco’s Ice Cream Now A Net Forex Earner
A $15 million investment in its yogurt line continues to reap healthy rewards for Creamery Novelties Ltd. So much so, that the company is following several lucrative leads for export.
Country Chair For Shell: It’s Going To Be A Difficult Couple Of Years
Senior vice president and Country Chair for Shell Trinidad and Tobago, Adam Lowmass, stated that while the energy sector’s activity will be promising over the next two to three years, the immediate future will present challenges due to the critical role of gas in T&T’s economy. Speaking during a panel discussion at the T&T Energy Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on February 10, Lowmass emphasised the importance of working collaboratively to accelerate progress.
Trade Minister Disappointed With TCL
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon has expressed disappointment over the recent price increase by Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL), the country’s sole cement supplier. TCL raised its prices by 7% on Monday, marking the fifth consecutive year of price hikes. Notably, today marks exactly one year since TCL’s last price increase. Gopee-Scoon’s comments came yesterday during a media briefing following her tour of Creamery Novelties Ltd at the Diamond Vale Industrial Estate in Diego Martin.
Regional News
Guyana: Gas-To-Energy Project Set To Become A Reality Despite Delays
Guyana’s transformative Gas to Energy (GTE) project is encountering some delays due to ongoing arbitration processes and equipment delivery challenges. The aim of the approximately $2 billion project is to harness the nation’s natural gas resources to advance sustainable economic development.
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady
Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) announced on Thursday it would maintain its benchmark interest rate at 6 per cent, striking a cautious balance between supporting economic recovery and guarding against inflationary risks posed by global uncertainties and domestic climate vulnerabilities.
General Accident’s Profit Falls 42%, Eyes Regional Growth For Recovery
General Accident Insurance has hinted at regional expansion as part of its growth strategy, despite posting a 42 per cent decline in annual profit. The company’s profit after tax for the year totalled $312 million, down from $548 million a year earlier.
SVG PM Admits Regional Ferry Service ‘Not Easy To Execute’
While Caricom leaders are set to discuss the possibility of an inter-island regional passenger ferry, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves believes while it is a necessary endeavour, logistically it will not be easy to execute.
CARICOM Summit: Free Movement, Trade Barriers & Food Security
With global geopolitical shifts and changing trade dynamics creating new challenges, leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will this week examine key issues, from trade barriers and free movement of nationals to food security at a regional summit.
CARICOM Nations Set To Reduce Agri-Food Imports
The CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) has entered into a partnership with an international crop research agency specialising in dryland farming in a bid to reduce extra-regional agri-food imports.
Jamaica: No Recession
A further 1.8 per cent contraction of the local economy during the last quarter of 2024 was not enough to place the country in a recession as other macroeconomic indicators continue to trend positively, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) indicated during a quarterly briefing on Wednesday at which time it presented the preliminary estimates of economic performance.
CDB Gets AA+ From Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Caribbean Development Bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating at ‘AA+’ with a Stable Outlook, underpinned by very high liquidity and excellent capitalisation.
Hyatt Pays US$465 Million For Bahia Principe Joint Venture
Hyatt Hotels Corporation said it paid US$465 million to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Management Hotelero Piñero, S.L., a joint venture with Grupo Piñero, as part of its expansion into the all-inclusive segment. This was revealed in Hyatt’s 10-K filing (annual report) published last Thursday. Hyatt paid €359 million or US$374 million on December 27 to acquire its interest in the joint venture which owns the Bahia Principe brand and manages the 22 Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts-branded properties across the Dominican Republic, Spain, Mexico and Jamaica.
International News
Nissan Jumps On Report Japan Group Seeking Tesla Investment
Nissan Motor Co. shares jumped after the Financial Times reported that a high-level Japanese group has drawn up plans to seek investment from Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. to aid the struggling carmaker.
Foxconn Has Asked Honda To Form Partnership
Taiwan’s Foxconn, also called Hon Hai (HNHPF, HNHAF) has proposed forming a partnership with Japan’s Honda Motor (HMC), aiming to create a tie-up framework that also includes rival carmakers Nissan Motor (7201.T, NSANY) and Mitsubishi Motors, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.
Stocks Gain As Alibaba Boosts China Tech Optimism
European stocks rose, following strong gains across Asian markets as results from China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. fueled a fresh wave of optimism over artificial intelligence.
Walmart Forecasts Fiscal 2026 Revenue Largely Below Estimates
Walmart on Thursday forecast sales for the fiscal year ending January 2026 largely below Wall Street estimates, suggesting the world’s largest retailer expects inflation-weary consumers to pull back after several quarters of solid growth.
Birkenstock’s Annual Margin Forecast Overshadows Holiday-Quarter Sales Beat
Birkenstock (BIRK) maintained its annual margin forecast even as strong demand for its cork-based sandals helped beat holiday-quarter expectations, sending shares of the German footwear maker down 4% before the bell.
Alibaba’s Sales Grow Fastest Since 2023
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) posted its fastest pace of revenue growth in more than a year, reflecting a turnaround in its commerce business and big strides into the critical field of AI.
US Stock Futures Slip; Gold Hits Fresh Record High
US stocks were set for a modest retreat from their latest record highs as concerns around trade tariffs weighed on sentiment. Gold set a fresh all-time high.
Glencore Weighs Becoming Next Commodity Giant To Quit London
Glencore Plc said it’s studying whether to move its primary listing away from London, potentially becoming the latest major miner to leave what has for decades been the industry’s global hub.
BP Weighs Sale Of Castrol Lubricants Unit Amid Elliott Push
BP Plc (BP), in which activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built up a nearly 5% stake, is considering a potential sale of its lubricants business, according to people familiar with the matter.
Reports
Earnings News – January 2025
US Federal Funds Target Rate – January 2025
On January 29th, 2025, the decision was made by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to maintain its target range for the federal funds rate at 4.25%-4.50%. This interest rate decision was informed by the Fed’s dual mandate to foster full employment and keep prices low and stable.
Local Equity Market Overview – 4Q 2024
Locally, indicators of economic activity were somewhat positive, with growth in the non-energy sector partially offsetting declines in energy sector, which faced challenges due to constraints in natural gas availability.
Earnings News – December 2024
Offshore Series Factsheets – December 2024
Pelagic Series Factsheets – December 2024
Is Your Business Healthy?
With the turn of the calendar comes important personal health checks — the kind of things you do annually to make sure you’re staying on top of your well-being. It may be tempting to avoid these checkups. I mean, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Yet, we don’t always know we’re “broken” until we look more closely. And we can’t get healthier if we don’t get checkups, set goals and work toward them.
7 Things You Need To Consider Before Expanding Your Business
For any successful business, deciding when to start scaling is the most challenging time. Just as time cannot stand still, businesses must also keep moving, which means expanding when they are doing well. Put simply, a competitor will step in to fill the gap.
Legs Tingling After Exercise?
The tingle of your pre-workout kicking in is one thing, but feeling a tingling in your legs after a workout is another. It might seem concerning, but it’s not always a cause for alarm. As blood flow increases to your body during exercise, your muscles enlarge to accommodate it. Although this helps power you through the task at hand, those swollen muscles can impinge on nerves and veins, causing tingling in your legs after running or another form of exercise.